As far as I was aware, if you wish for your donated material to generate the most help back to the community, Salvation Army and Goodwill are the way to go. At least, that's how I am to understand it works in Canada.
Up here, we have another massive thrift store chain called Value Village, which is indeed a for-profit operation. They have rightfully taken a lot of flak over the years. We get incessant calls from the Diabetes Association asking for clothing donations. They sell the donated material to Value Village by the pound for practically nothing. Value Village then often prices it at ridiculous rates, often higher than brand new! There has been a mixed response of amusement and annoyance that items found with original dollar store labels have been priced at $6.99, $9.99+. These places are no different than any other thrift store, exorbitant prices aside.
Has anyone else ever been puzzled by the thrift store smell? Every thrift store smells exactly the same. How is that possible? Do they all use the exact same cleaning and sterilization products? Do the combined family scents of 10000+ families all team up to form a solitary, monster scent?
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